Moving from Boston, MA to Birmingham, AL
About 1,225 miles across a state line, from Massachusetts into Alabama, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Boston, MA to Birmingham, AL covers about 1,225 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $5,513 – $7,350 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 139 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,225 miles from Massachusetts to Alabama. Almost all of these move as consolidated freight: your goods share a trailer and the carrier quotes 7 to 14 days rather than a date. It is why a two-bedroom home here runs $5,513 – $7,350 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 3 days on the road (about 22 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households
- Book ahead
- 6 to 8 weeks
Cost of moving from Boston to Birmingham
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $4,134 – $5,513 | $2,977 – $3,969 | $1,985 – $2,646 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,961 – $6,615 | $3,572 – $4,763 | $2,381 – $3,175 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,513 – $7,350 | $3,969 – $5,292 | $2,646 – $3,528 |
| 3 bedrooms | $6,339 – $8,453 | $4,564 – $6,086 | $3,043 – $4,057 |
| 4 bedrooms | $7,166 – $9,555 | $5,160 – $6,880 | $3,440 – $4,586 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $8,269 – $11,025 | $5,954 – $7,938 | $3,969 – $5,292 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,225 miles, from our published model: distance × home-size factor × service rate, shown as −10% to +20% around the base figure. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items sit on top. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Boston to Birmingham
1,225 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $6,125. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $5,513 to $7,350, transport only. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Boston to Birmingham
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 139 people a year (±95) moved from Suffolk County, MA, home to Boston, to Jefferson County, AL, home to Birmingham. Going the other way: about 12 people a year (±19). Movers from Suffolk County make up 0.5% of the 28,651 people a year who moved into Jefferson County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 1,485 people a year (±1,050) moving from Massachusetts to Alabama and about 693 people a year (±524) from Alabama to Massachusetts — a net gain for Alabama of about 792 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Middlesex County, MA | 17,104 ±1,315 |
| Norfolk County, MA | 10,905 ±1,500 |
| Essex County, MA | 4,501 ±942 |
| Plymouth County, MA | 3,190 ±733 |
| Worcester County, MA | 2,085 ±401 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Shelby County, AL | 3,930 ±713 |
| Tuscaloosa County, AL | 1,489 ±342 |
| St. Clair County, AL | 1,342 ±476 |
| Walker County, AL | 959 ±600 |
| Houston County, AL | 799 ±446 |
Licensed movers at each end
174 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Boston (246 counting those licensed only inside Massachusetts). 120 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 12.0% of their 368 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gentle Giant Moving CompanyUSDOT 373544 | Winchester · 8 mi | 88 trucks | 78 | 4.9% of 41 |
| Olympia Moving & StorageUSDOT 597632 | Watertown Town · 6 mi | 70 trucks | 30 | 5.3% of 19 |
| DN Van Lines Moving & StorageUSDOT 1141917 | Northborough · 30 mi | 32 trucks | 95 | 10.8% of 37 |
| Stairhopper Movers LLCUSDOT 1696867 | Everett · 3 mi | 31 trucks | 54 | 0.0% of 16 |
| ABC Moving Services IncUSDOT 279719 | Somerville · 3 mi | 23 trucks | 0 | — |
| Tobin ScientificUSDOT 342626 | Beverly · 18 mi | 22 trucks | 21 | 10.0% of 10 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Birmingham end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Birmingham: New Latitude Moving Admiral Movers Motivated Movers (Birmingham, 52 trucks), Thompson Delivery Services Colwright (Birmingham, 31 trucks), Two Men and A Truck (Irondale, 21 trucks), Changing Spaces Moving Inc (Birmingham, 20 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Massachusetts into Alabama, 49 CFR Part 375 applies: a written estimate before loading, no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate collected at delivery, and full-value protection unless you choose released value in writing. See binding vs non-binding estimates and valuation explained.
Before you book Boston to Birmingham
Insist on a survey
Over 1,225 miles the price is driven almost entirely by weight. A quote given without a video or in-home survey is a guess that gets revised upward on loading day, and at this distance the revision is expensive.
Keep full-value protection
It is the default on an interstate move. Signing it away for released value means 60 cents per pound, about $18 for a 30 lb television, after 1,225 miles of handling.
Arriving in Birmingham
A local move inside Birmingham later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $435 – $719 for a two-bedroom home and $723 – $1,317 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Birmingham are Huntsville (about 98 mi), Montgomery (about 98 mi), Columbus (about 154 mi).
Other routes from Boston
All routes from Boston, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Boston to Worcester, MA | ~45 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Boston to Nashua, NH | 45 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Boston to Providence, RI | ~48 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Boston to Warwick, RI | ~58 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Boston to Springfield, MA | ~94 mi | $525 – $859 |
| Boston to Hartford, CT | ~108 mi | $486 – $648 |
| Boston to Portland, ME | ~115 mi | $518 – $690 |
| Boston to New Haven, CT | ~140 mi | $630 – $840 |
Also moving to Birmingham: from Huntsville, AL, from Montgomery, AL, from Atlanta, GA, from Nashville, TN.
Boston to Birmingham moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Boston to Birmingham?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,225 miles cost about $4,134 – $5,513 for a studio, $5,513 – $7,350 for a two-bedroom home and $6,339 – $8,453 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Boston to Birmingham take?
The drive is 3 days on the road (about 22 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 7 to 14 days because it moves on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Boston to Birmingham?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $2,646 – $3,528 for a two-bedroom home, against $5,513 – $7,350 with full-service movers; a moving container is $3,969 – $5,292.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Boston to Birmingham?
Yes. Boston is in Massachusetts and Birmingham is in Alabama, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 174 listed movers within 30 miles of Boston hold it.
How many people move from Boston to Birmingham each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 139 people a year (margin of error ±95) moved from Suffolk County, which contains Boston, to Jefferson County, which contains Birmingham.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.